Fastener removal tool and method of using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10166664-B2
Application number	US-201514878348-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 8, 2015
Priority date	Oct 8, 2015
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

A tool for removing a fastener head from a fastener includes a body that includes an alignment surface configured to couple substantially flush against a structural surface proximate the fastener head. A blade coupled to the body includes a tip configured to sever the fastener head from the fastener as the blade is moved in a first direction generally parallel to the alignment surface from a first blade position to a second blade position. The tool also includes a force transfer member coupled to the body for movement parallel to a longitudinal axis of the force transfer member. The longitudinal axis is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the first direction. The force transfer member is configured to move the blade from the first blade position to the second blade position in response to an impulse received by the force transfer member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for removing a fastener head from a fastener, wherein the fastener head protrudes from a structural surface through which the fastener is installed, said tool comprising:
a body comprising an alignment surface configured to couple substantially flush against the structural surface proximate the fastener head;
a blade coupled to said body for movement in a first direction generally parallel to said alignment surface, said blade comprising a tip configured to sever the fastener head from the fastener as said blade is moved from a first blade position to a second blade position;
a force transfer member coupled to said body for movement parallel to a longitudinal axis of said force transfer member, said longitudinal axis is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the first direction, said force transfer member is configured to move said blade from the first blade position to the second blade position in response to an impulse received by said force transfer member; and
at least one biasing member coupled to said blade, said at least one biasing member configured to bias said blade towards the first blade position with respect to said body.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein said body further comprises at least one magnet inset of said alignment surface.

3. The tool of claim 1 , wherein said body defines a first interior wall substantially parallel to said alignment surface, said first interior wall is configured to guide said blade in the first direction.

4. The tool of claim 3 , wherein said blade further comprises at least one guide portion, said first interior wall is configured to react against said at least one guide portion as said blade moves between the first and second blade positions under a force of the impulse.

5. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve coupled to said body and configured to slidably receive said force transfer member therethrough.

6. The tool of claim 5 , wherein said body defines a second interior wall configured to be substantially concentric with said longitudinal axis of said force transfer member, said sleeve is generally tubular in shape and is at least partially received by said second interior wall.

7. The tool of claim 1 , wherein said blade further comprises at least one guide portion, said body defines a third interior wall configured to react against said at least one guide portion as said blade moves between the first and second blade positions under a force of the impulse, such that movement of said blade parallel to a second direction is restricted, wherein the second direction is defined perpendicular to the first direction in a plane parallel to said alignment surface.

8. The tool of claim 1 , wherein said blade further comprises at least one guide portion, said body defines a fourth interior wall configured to react against said at least one guide portion as said blade moves into the second blade position from the first blade position under a force of the impulse, such that movement of said blade in the first direction beyond the second blade position is restricted.

9. The tool of claim 1 , wherein said body defines a second interior wall configured to be substantially concentric with said longitudinal axis of said force transfer member.

10. A method for removing a fastener head from a fastener using a tool, wherein the fastener head protrudes from a structural surface through which the fastener is installed, said method comprising:
coupling an alignment surface of a body of the tool substantially flush against the structural surface proximate the fastener head, wherein the tool includes a blade coupled to the body for movement in a first direction generally parallel to the alignment surface, the blade including a tip;
applying an impulse to a force transfer member, the force transfer member coupled to the body for movement parallel to a longitudinal axis of the force transfer member, the longitudinal axis oriented at an acute angle with respect to the first direction, wherein:
the force transfer member moves the blade from a first blade position to a second blade position in response to the impulse, and the tip severs the fastener head from the fastener as the blade is moved from the first blade position to the second blade position; and
wherein the tool includes at least one biasing member coupled to the blade configured to return the blade to the first blade position.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the body defines a first interior wall substantially parallel to the alignment surface and the blade includes at least one guide portion, said method further comprising guiding the blade in the first direction by reacting the first interior wall against the at least one guide portion as the blade moves between the first and second blade positions under a force of the impulse.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the blade includes at least one guide portion, said method further comprising restricting movement of the blade parallel to a second direction by reacting a third interior wall defined by the body against the at least one guide portion as the blade moves between the first and second blade positions under a force of the impulse, wherein the second direction is defined perpendicular to the first direction in a plane parallel to the alignment surface.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the blade includes at least one guide portion, said method further comprising restricting movement of the blade in the first direction beyond the second blade position by reacting a fourth interior wall defined by the body against the at least one guide portion as the blade moves into the second blade position from the first blade position under a force of the impulse.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the body defines a second interior wall configured to be substantially concentric with the longitudinal axis of the force transfer member, said method further comprising sliding the force transfer member through a sleeve coupled to the body, wherein the sleeve is generally tubular in shape and is at least partially received by the second interior wall.

15. A method for removing a fastener from a rotor assembly using a tool, wherein a fastener head of the fastener protrudes from a surface of a rotor blade dovetail through which the fastener is installed, said method comprising:
coupling an alignment surface of a body of the tool substantially flush against the dovetail surface proximate the fastener head, wherein the tool includes a blade coupled to the body for movement in a first direction generally parallel to the alignment surface and radially inward with respect to the rotor assembly, the blade including a tip;
applying an impulse to a force transfer member,
the force transfer member coupled to the body for movement parallel to a longitudinal axis of the force transfer member, the longitudinal axis oriented at an acute angle with respect to the first direction, wherein:
the force transfer member moves the blade from a first blade position to a second blade position in response to the impulse, and
the tip severs the fastener head from the fastener as the blade is moved from the first blade position to the second blade position;

wherein at least one biasing member coupled to the blade returns the blade to the first blade position; and
removing the fastener from the dovetail.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the body defines a first interior wall substantially parallel to the alignment surface and the blade includes at least one guide portion, said method further comprising guiding the blade in the first direction

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Sajdak Lukasz
• Koszarny Kamil
• Holmes James Bradford

Classifications

• F05D2230/70

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• F01D5/3053

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• B21J15/145 Primary

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• Y10T29/53943

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• B21J15/50

  Removing or cutting devices for rivets · CPC title